By Scott Gilfoid: Carl Froch (28-2, 20 KO’s) will be trying to capture the IBF super middleweight strap off of champion Lucian Bute (30-0, 24 KO’s) on May 26th in Froch’s home arena in Nottingham, UK. Froch thinks that a win over Bute will translate to boxing fans thing he’s a great one, but I don’t see it happening like that even if he does get the win over the 32-year-old Bute. There will be still be unfinished business for Froch against Andre Ward, Andre Dirrell and Mikkel Kessler that Froch would have to clear up before anyone started attaching labels of greatness to Froch.

Froch said this at his press conference with Bute: “When I am back on the top of the world, people will recognize me as a great fighter.”

I really, really don’t think so. If Froch could run the gauntlet by taking on Andre Dirrell, Anthony Dirrell, Ward, Kessler and maybe Adonis Stevenson, then I could see Froch being called great IF he beat all of them. But you know and I know that Froch isn’t going to get through that list without tasting defeat many times. That’s just the reality of it. Ward has Froch’s number as he showed in his win over him last December, and Kessler already beat Froch. Andre Dirrell should have arguably beaten Froch by a lopsided decision in their fight in 2009, and Anthony Dirrell would have a great chance of knocking Froch out. I think Stevenson could beat Froch as well if he got to him in the first two rounds before Froch found Stevenson’s questionable chin with one of his own shots.